Posted on 09/02/2025 3:49:17 AM PDT by McGruff
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Tuesday that the peace process regarding the war in Ukraine is still in its early stages.
"The bad news is that we are still at the early stage of all of this. You would, of course, love for the whole peace process to be much further along. The good news is that [United States] President [Donald] Trump is absolutely committed to this," Rutte shared at a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Fieden and Defense Minister of Luxembourg Yuriko Backes.
Additionally, Rutte stressed that NATO "is taking very seriously" the issue with GPS jamming, and added that the organization is "stepping up" when it comes to hybrid and cyber attacks. "We are working day and night to counter this, to prevent it, and to make sure that they will not do it again," the secretary stated.
(Excerpt) Read more at breakingthenews.net ...
Kinda like the Nord Stream pipeline...Who benefits??
Nothing would surprise me.
Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have said the fault lies with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and have urged the U.S. to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow.
"I am preparing myself inwardly for this war to last a long time," Merz said in an interview with public broadcaster ZDF.
https://www.reuters.com/world/germanys-merz-expects-ukraine-war-last-long-time-2025-08-31/
Perhaps the US should severely sanction those NATO and EU members who sill buy Russian energy? And who fudge or fail to meet their NATO defense spending targets?
They’re expecting Putin is stalling to take that last piece of the Donbas he wants and then he will come to the table. The sooner he takes it, the sooner he goes into peace mode. That is the cold reality
The European Union will gradually phase out all imports of Russian gas and oil by the end of 2027 under a legislative proposal put forward by the European Commission.
The draft regulation provides ‘a stepwise phase-out’ of pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas originating in or exported directly or indirectly from Russia, with a complete stop on imports by the end of 2027.
https://www.worldecr.com/news/eu-proposes-complete-ban-on-russian-gas-and-oil-imports-by-end-of-2027/
Under the envisaged gradual ban, Russian gas imports under new contracts will be prohibited as of 1 January 2026. Imports under existing short-term contracts will be stopped by 17 June of next year, except those for pipeline gas delivered to landlocked countries and linked to long-term contracts, which will be allowed until the end of 2027. Those will be stopped by the end of 2027.
Meanwhile:
Killzone🔴 SCO Challenges The West🌍 Russians Advance On Orikhiv➡️Military Summary For 2025.09.01
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW15w1UFRc0
By the time St Z sits down at the table, ( he will be served Chicken Kiev, fresh not frozen) , Vlad will be rolling up on the Dniepner and Odessa….every day he delays is more territory and men lost….he is demilitarizing by his own hand.
"The EU will gradually and effectively stop the import of Russian gas and oil by the end of 2027, under a legislative proposal put forward by the European Commission today. "And another article addressing:Commission proposes gradual phase-out of Russian gas and oil imports into the EU European Commisson, 16 June 2025.
More sources....
EU Proposes Ban on Russian Oil, Gas Imports by End 2027 Wall Street Journal, 17 June 2025.
EU plans gradual end to Russian gas and oil imports by 2027 Financial World, 17 June 2025.
EU proposes complete ban on Russian gas and oil imports by end of 2027 World ECR from Dow Jones, 19 June 2025.
EU sets 2027 as deadline to phase out all Russian energy Euro News, 6 May 2025.
EU proposes keeping gas storage filling goals until 2027 Reuters, 5 May 2025.
EU plans to stop Russian gas and oil imports by 2027 Yahoo Finance, 18 June 2025.
"...there is significant dependence on Russia for certain stable radioisotopes used to produce medical radioisotopes for cancer treatment and the EU needs to increase efforts to develop EU production of such medical radioisotopes for the benefit of all Member States."
Source: COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS European Commission, 12 May 2025.
"The Proposal will now be subject to the ordinary legislative procedure that requires approval from the European Parliament as well as a qualified majority of the EU Member States."
Source: EU Proposes Regulation to Phase Out Russian Natural Gas Imports: Key Measures and Implications Mayer-Brown, 27 June 2025
"...the areas where economic ties with Russia remain the strongest, for the US and Europe respectively."We continue to trade with Russia in a variety of ways, it seems much of the media in the moment is about "proposals." The latest news tells:Source: The US and Europe are still doing billions of dollars’ worth of business with Russia despite years of war CNN, 14 August 2025.
"The Russian Federation retains dominant market positions in several strategic categories. It supplies: 83.85% of U.S. imports of phosphatic fertilizer mixes; 49.58% of urea-ammonium nitrate fertilizers; 45.34% of unwrought palladium; 44.67% of buckwheat,"A complicated picture, to be sure. And nothing is a done deal, as all is in flux including that EU proposal not as yet agreed to by all the member-states.Source: U.S. Imports from Russia Surge in 2025, Led by Fertilizers and Metals GTAIC, 20 August 2025.
I am preparing myself inwardly for this war to last a long time,” Merz said
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Hitler thought the same as the Soviets were advancing directly on Berlin…..must be in their genes.
No, that is untrue.
Rolling Russians are quickly destroyed targets. There are no effective rolling Russians
Trump has heaped a lot of praise on this guy.
Deservedly so, as Trump has got the Euroweenies to pony up and write the checks that Uncle Sam was writing under the autopen prez.
I do believe Trump is as committed as one can be who is no longer putting skin in the game so to speak.
After nearly eighty years maybe the Euroweenies are up to the task of fighting their own wars without Uncle Sam footing the bill.
At best, it will be well over a year from now before Russia suffers the loss of their NATO and EU oil and gas market and the cash that it generates. This will be more than five years after Russia invaded Ukraine.
"A year from now" brings us to August 2026, and nowhere near the dates proposed by the EU Commission in its legislation.
And, at worst?
It is clear there are sides, and optimism and pessimism, and probably some fatigue going on.
Given "green" and "net zero" and "wind and solar" politics, and, in Germany, the closing off of nuclear resources, it seems the global issue is far larger than a war, in a world of wars ongoing.
The notion of sanctioning nations still patronizing Russia with trade includes our United States and the many member-states of the EU. Perhaps it is impolite to take note of this, but it is factual.
One thing is certain. Whatever the political conversations, they are most often about money. Who gets -- the few -- and who pays -- the many.
The problems of trading with the enemy and heavy debt go back to the dawn of war. Yet still wars persist, with losers and winners. And, as always, it is better to be a winner than a loser. So far, our feckless allies in NATO and the EU seem determined to lose or to make us pay the bill for winning. I prefer that we nevertheless win and then charge them hard for our efforts.
Your aim is clear, but so is your analysis as highlighted above in bold.
Given the "World War II" level of debt already accrued and mounting continually, and given those "feckless allies who seem themselves to be teetering economically, your "aim" doesn't seem to match the changing world.
Were that aim to turn to a loss, rather than a win, what would that look like? It is a likelihood.
I believe that prudent federal government management and policies and impending technological changes are in our favor. New energy technologies, artificial intelligence, education reform, and medical innovations give good reason for optimism.
Putin is.a scumbag, but a very smart one.. Coould be fatal to underestimate him.
Aside from your beliefs, as listed, what actual metric can be cited?
Or, about $ 2 billion more than when last cited in this thread, 9/2/2025, 10:49:27 AM. Tick tock.
I recommend that you investigate the positive effects of a 2.5 or even a 3% rate of annual growth in US labor productivity.
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